German international Wirtz moves to Liverpool for record fee
Liverpool have completed the transfer of Florian Wirtz. The 22-year-old German international from Bayer Leverkusen signs a multi-year contract with the club of manager Arne Slot. The English champions are reportedly paying a record fee of 116 million pounds (136.4 million euros), including bonuses, for the attacking midfielder.
With the fee of £116m, Wirtz breaks the Premier League transfer record. Chelsea reportedly paid £115m for Ecuadorian Moisés Caicedo from Brighton & Hove Albion two years ago. Liverpool's previous record was the transfer of Darwin Núñez. The Uruguayan joined from Benfica in 2022 for £85m, but not all bonuses were paid in his case. Virgil van Dijk was transferred to Southampton for £75m.
Wirtz's transfer had been expected for some time, after Leverkusen's sporting director Simon Rolfes confirmed Liverpool's interest at the end of May. Bayern Munich and Manchester City were also reportedly interested in signing Wirtz, but the German international opted for Liverpool.
Wirtz played for Leverkusen from 2020. Last season he scored sixteen goals and provided fifteen assists in 45 games for the number 2 of the Bundesliga. Last year he won the national championship and the German Cup with the club.
Three weeks ago, Liverpool also signed Dutch international Jeremie Frimpong from Leverkusen. He is the fourth Dutchman in Slot's selection, after Van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch and Cody Gakpo.
"I want something completely new, to leave the Bundesliga and go to the Premier League," Wirtz told Liverpool's website. "I've been waiting for it for a long time. Finally, it's here."
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